of gender empowerment. Political participation, be it the ability
to
vote
and voice opinions, or the ability to run for office with a
fair chance of being elected, plays a huge role in the
empowerment of women. However, participation is not limited
to the realm of politics. It can include participation in
the
household
, in schools, and the ability to make choices for
one. It can be said that this latter participation need to be
achieved before one can move onto broader political
participation. When women have the agency to do what they
want, a higher equality between men and women is
established. It is argued that
microcredit
also offers a way to
provide empowerment for women. Governments, organizations,
and individuals have caught hold of the lure of
microfinance
.
They hope that lending money and credit allows women to
function in business and society, which in turn empowers them
to do more in their communities. One of the primary goals in
the foundation of microfinance was women empowerment.
Loans with low interest rates are given to women in developing
communities in hopes that they can start a small business and
provide for her family. It should be said, however, that the
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WOMEN EMPOWERMENT THROUTH
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
success and efficiency of microcredit and microloans is
controversial and constantly debated. The growing access of
the web in the late 20th century has allowed women to
empower themselves by using various tools on the Internet.
With the introduction of the
World Wide Web
, women have
begun
to
use
social
networking
sites
like
Face
book
and
Twitter
for
online activism
. Through online activism,
women are able to empower themselves by organizing
campaigns and voicing their opinions for equality rights without
feeling oppressed by members of society.
[10]
For example, on
May 29, 2013, an online campaign started by 100 female
advocates forced the leading social networking website, Face
book, to take down various pages that spread hatred about
women. In recent years,
blogging
has also become a powerful
tool for the educational empowerment of women. According to
a study done by the University of California, Los Angeles,
medical patients who read and write about their disease are
often in a much happier mood and more knowledgeable than
those who do not. By reading others' experiences, patients can
better educate themselves and apply strategies that their
fellow bloggers suggest. Many of the barriers to women's
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WOMEN EMPOWERMENT THROUTH
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
empowerment and equity lie ingrained in cultural norms. Many
women feel these pressures, while others have become
accustomed to being treated inferior to men. Even if
men,
legislators
,
NGOs
, etc. are aware of the benefits women's
empowerment and participation can have, many are scared of
disrupting the status quo and continue to let
societal norms
get
in the way of development. Research shows that the increasing
access to the internet can also result in an increased
exploitation of women.
[9]
Releasing personal information on
websites has put some women's personal safety at risk. In
